Is Postecoglou’s Style Of Play Making Things Worse For Tottenham?

In recent weeks, rivals have started referring to ‘Dr. Tottenham.’ This is who your team should visit if they require a cure for bad form and indeed, Tottenham Hotspur has been a good opponent for struggling sides such as Everton and Leicester City. It’s a jibe that reflects the situation Spurs are in right now.

Ange Postecoglou’s team has won just one of its last 11 league fixtures. Tottenham is sitting 15th in the Premier League table, just eight points off the bottom three and relegation danger. On Sunday, Spurs will visit Brentford, a London rival that boasts one of the strongest home records in the division. Tottenham’s position could become even more perilous.

Injuries can’t be ignored as a factor in this. Countless important players have spent time on the sidelines this season with Postecoglou currently missing Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, Guglielmo Vicario and Yves Bissouma.

However, some argue that Postecoglou’s high-energy, high-intensity approach is exacerbating Tottenham’s problems. Anyone who watched Spurs recently lose to Everton and Leicester will know Postecoglou’s midfield set-up often leaves his team too open in the centre of the pitch. Tottenham is defensively vulnerable in almost every match it plays.

Another manager might demonstrate more pragmatism in setting up Tottenham to grind out resets. They would adopt a compact, conservative approach to make Spurs more defensively solid at the back and play on the counter-attack until a number of injured players have returned to the fold.

Postecoglou, however, is an ideologue. He wants his players to buy into his style of play and never waver from it. This is both the Australian’s biggest strength as a coach and his biggest weakness. It certainly appears to be adding to the problems currently being suffered by Tottenham Hotspur.

Recent reports claim Spurs remain behind Postecoglou even if a large section of supporters have turned against the former Celtic boss. Tottenham is in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and is among the favourites to win this season’s Europa League. A piece of silverware would change the complexion of Spurs’ season.

Another league defeat to Brentford this weekend would pile more pressure on Postecoglou and potentially push Tottenham even closer to relegation danger. The club might still believe in its manager, but there will surely come a breaking point if Spurs’ current form continues. Postecoglou might have no choice but to adapt.